WII-nner is Revealed!

Howdy all! Here's the follow up to my ultimate console post. I have to make this quick because work is actually busy on New Year's Eve, go figure.

My personal favorite for consoles from my previous post is the Nintendo Wii. This console has everything that I love. Great new games, fun controls, great muliplayer, online functionality and backwards compatibility.

While the Wii is king, I have to say the console I use the most is my Nintendo DS. As I've gotten older this little hand held might as well be a friend on the train. It does a great job of allowing me to take a break from work, and also has nice web surfing and home brew applications which keep things interesting. Plus the touch screen controls is a great new twist on gaming for me.

An honorable mention should go to the PS3. It has all the same features as the Wii, but better graphics and online play. It also has the built in blu-ray, which was a main draw for buying it in the first place (for me). While the price was high, it has come down. This is a great choice for those who want 1080p graphics.

The stinker on this list is the xbox 360. Not only does Microsoft feel the need to charge you to play online they also can't make a console that works. I just got mine back from repair (RRoD) and I got a cute form letter and a whopping 1 month's free subscription to xbox live. That'll make up for the 5 weeks and poor customer service it took for me to have my console back. Bravo.

Well, as promised this is my last post of 2009. I hope you've all enjoyed our inaugural year. Please keep checking us out in 2010. The more readers we get the more reviews we'll be able to put up, and all the opinions and gaming stories will continue. Happy New Year!

Obscure games and why I love them Part 1 - Tokyo Extreme Racer

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! In the past week one of my postings allowed me to reconnect with my best college roommate of all time, from way back in 2000-2001. He mentioned to me a game that I haven't thought of in years: Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero. This game was actually TXR 2 (in Japan) and #3 was released here in the US as well. Both of these games owned my soul in the early part of the 2000's. And while these games received very solid critic reviews, very few people have actually heard of them, and fewer still have ever taken the time to play them. So as the first decade of the 21st century starts to close I want to take you on an extreme trip down memory lane.

The TXR series is predicated on street racing. As a kid from LA street racing was everywhere once the Fast and the Furious movies hit theaters. This game is set on the highways of Tokyo, with different segments of the city being unlocked, and each section has crews of "rivals", or enemies you must race and defeat. Now this is where TXR takes an interesting approach to racing. Every race is a one on one battle and each driver gets a health bar, just like a fighting game. Your bar decreases when you are trailing during the race. The farther you are, the faster it decreases. If you hit objects (walls, opponent, other cars, etc) you lose chunks of health. The bigger the collision, the more health you lose. You win when your opponent runs out of health. As with most racing games you win money for winning races (a lot like real street racing, if you're so bold as to bet on yourself). Money can be used to upgrade your current ride, or buy a new one all together. Each car is customizable, and TXR3 the body upgrades also increase performance, unlike TXR Zero.

All this adds up to a racing game that is a street racing/RPG/fighting hybrid. It sounds really confusing at first, but it's a very easy concept to grasp, and it's really quite addictive. I found this game during my Initial D days. For those who don't know, click here to learn more the arcade classic that was Initial D. I've always been a car nut and as my old roommate can attest, I spent hours and hours customizing my new cars, or beating rival after rival in an attempt to become racing king of Tokyo. One of my favorite parts of this game was just how detailed the customization could become. I would spend time wondering what kinds of headlight colors my car should have, matching body kit pieces, or even designing my own custom paint job in TXR3.

While I own a decent sized game library, I actually complete very few of the games that I own, simply because they become boring, I get a new game, or life forces me to focus on things other than games and I forget to pick them up again later. This was not the case with TXR. I finished both of these games, and it took quite a while. In the end, I slept easy knowing I was king of the highway. Even if most people never even knew there was a race going on...

Have you ever heard of ARG's?

Ok, so this is my second post of today but I had to put this up. Have any of you readers heard of Alternate Reality Games, ARG's? My old college roommate read my first post of today and IM'ed me. While chatting, he mentioned this to me and told me about ilovebees (don't be fooled, let the page load and start clicking on the odd looking links), an ARG prior to Halo2. This sounds AMAZING! What a great way to take the idea of D&D but turn it into something that introduces you to new people, places and ideas. How awesome is this. I almost want to see if we can throw one of these together on our own. Such a great idea. Thanks Ninja Murphy!

PS- I have NO IDEA what this picture has to do with anything, but it showed up in my image search on google for "ilovebees." Go figure...

The search for the ultimate system - One man's adventure

Hello readers,

Our recent poll received 3 votes (our highest ever!). As a result I will be writing a general piece of which video game system is the ultimate system. This will of course spark controversy and I'm happy to provide such entertainment to our two readers (ok, so one vote from the poll was mine...). Here goes:

What makes a gaming system great? Graphics? Games? Other functions? I'm going to start by naming off my the qualifying systems (in my mind) for best consoles of all time, along with a list of reasons why I feel they are worth mentioning. Then, at a later date I will reveal my choice for #1. Here are the combatants: the PS2, the Nintendo DS, the PS3, the xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii.

Let's go in order. The PS2 is a system that even in 2009 has outsold it's next gen counterpart, the PS3. When this system debuted in 2000 it became an instant hit in both the US and Japan. In fact, it was so popular for that holiday season my older brother stood in line for a day, PAID 3 of his friends to show up the morning of the release and buy one (one per customer!) and then they flipped them online for over 4x the purchase price! Now if that doesn't say demand, I don't know what does. But here's why the system is so great. First, it offered stellar graphics (at the time), a huge library of games (over 2400 games), backwards compatibility (played ps1 games) AND it doubled as a DVD player. Remember when DVD's were new and super expensive? Put all this together, coupled with meager online capabilities, as well as a later released hard drive
and this system has a lot for it's modern price tag of under $100.00 USD. Throw in the fact that some of my favorite games were either debuted or playable on this system (Gran Turismo series, Grand Theft Auto III, Dark Cloud series, etc) and there's a reason I still have my PS2 despite owning a PS3. Now if only there were a way to enhance the graphics for my new HDTV I got for x-mas...

Next in line is the Nintendo DS. As I've gotten older I've found that I don't have as much time to sit and play console games at home as I used to. The whole having a social life, working extra hours, getting married in 2010, etc has really cut into my free time (not that I'm complaining). However, there is this annoying 1.5 hours a day I spend on a train to and from the office. What should I do with said time? Read a book? Learn a new skill (through books and/or instructional materials)? Of course not! I'm going to spend it playing games. The DS is a perfect tool for such trips. I have played more Pokemon on CalTrain than a 5th grader at recess (go ahead, mock me if you must, but my monsters are better than yours!). The DS has a huge library of titles (over 1000), built in wifi game sharing, a web browser you can buy, and a TON of home brew/hacking options that every game nerd will love. Mix in the backwards compatibility with GBA games and you're all set. Portability along with great special features makes this console one of my personal staples.

Third on the list is the PS2's big brother, the PS3. This console has as similar suite of options to the PS2, expect more modern, along with some new tricks that are free and functional! The PS3 comes with a hard drive (either 20, 40, 80, or 120 GB). Early models have backwards compatibility with both ps1 and ps2 games, watch out for new consoles that do NOT contain this feature (if you want to play your old games). The PS3 also has FREE online network play, a store where you can download games and/or accessories, something Microsoft will gladly charge you for on the xbox 360. The PS3 also has SD card slots which allow you to store pictures, video and other fun media, AND the PS3 can run Linux as its OS for those of you that are so inclined. Oh, and it has a blu-ray player, which for some people is a great thing (LIKE ME!!!) It also has wireless controls (now with rumble, why wasn't this on the launch??). The PS3 has suffered from a lack of signature Sony only titles thus far, though there are several good series (Resistance, God of War, etc) currently available only on the PS3. While the system continues to grow into its niche, there is a lot to like is this near computer console, and the price has finally come down a bit to manageable levels.

Next on the list is the PS3's rival, the xbox 360. Despite coming out before the PS3, the xbox 360 has a number of features that cost extra (like playing online), AND is missing the built in function of a next gen video player (HD-DVD). Now the 360 does have an amazing game library, built in component cables for HD gaming, wireless controls, and a 20GB hard drive. In addition, Microsoft has some KILLER exclusive titles (Halo series, PGR, Forza, etc) along with great online network capabilities, provided you're willing to pay for online play. My biggest point of contention isn't charging customers for extras like online gaming or wireless connectivity, it's about producing a console that WORKS. That's right, the red ring of death. All xbox 360 owners know and fear these 3 little lights. In fact, a recent poll I read said that 54% of owners have experienced this sort of issue. I have also been a victim, while my roommate will now be sending his back for a SECOND time. He used to work at EA and a co-worker sent his back SEVEN times to be "fixed." Instead of fixing the problem, Microsoft simply patches the over heated portion of your mother board and returns the defective system to you, so it's only a matter of time before it fails again. What great customer service. There have been so many problems with RRoD that Microsoft has been forced to increase manufacturer warranties to 3 years beyond the date of manufacture. You might be able to read between the lines, but how many other consoles on this list have this problem? Think it'll affect my judgment of the 360? Yeah, I thought so...

Our last entry is the Nintendo Wii. For starters I want to admit I thought the Wii's motion controls were a joke when it first came out. I never thought I'd enjoy having to wave my arms around or wiggle my wrists to get characters to run around my tv. Boy was I wrong. I played Wii Sports ONCE and I went out and bought a system that week. I would've bought it the next day, but Nintendo kept supply very low the first year of release. The Wii has a lot to like about it. It has great exclusive titles (Mario Galaxy, New Mario Wii, Mario Kart, etc) in addition to special motion control exclusive versions of Resident Evil 4, Cabella's Big Game Hunter and Call of Duty. While the Wii doesn't have the best graphics of the modern consoles, the controls make it much more fun to play certain types of games. In addition to new games, the Wii has the Virtual Console online where you can purchase classic Nintendo games. As is a theme with me, backwards compatibility makes this a much better value, though you have to buy the old games, you can't play your old cartridges (but you can play Game Cube games, which is a huge plus for me). The combination of online classic games and fun to play new games makes this a great buy. The sub par graphics and horrible online play for Wii games knocks this console back a bit. If you're playing with a group, this is the best console on the market, hands down (pun intended). For Nintendo it's always been substance that make its games great, and the Wii continues this tradition. Graphics aren't the only thing and Nintendo's motion controls have been copy catted and will soon be ported to competing consoles from Sony and Xbox 360.

So that is my list for best consoles to date. This article is not meant to discount any unlisted favorites, like the SNES, the N64 or the lowly Sega Genesis (I owned one). Please read this and leave some feedback for which ones you enjoy most and we'll see if your opinions line up with mine. I will make my last post of 2009 the answer the question: Which console is king?

The Quest

Ok, so I've decided to issue a new challenge to myself for 2010 (a little early, I know). In reading a recent Game Informer article about the top 200 games of all time I decided I want to play through the original Zelda title for the NES. To do this I am purchasing the Zelda Collector's Edition disc for the Game Cube. I will play this on my Wii system and see if I can get through the whole game (I have no clue if you can save or not). Since this collector's disc comes with 4 Zelda games my goal is to play through the entire Zelda franchise, up through Twighlight Princess.

Should be interesting, to say the least. The follow up posts will probably be far apart, but I will try to do this none-the-less. I anticipate a great trip down gaming memory lane and I hope to have a new found appreciation for Zelda in the process.

Gran Turismo Time Attack Challenge Review

Alright race fans, the demo's been out since last Thursday. Have you had a chance to play it yet? I have, and I have to say it's kind of a mixed bag for me. Let's start negative and then end with the positive because overall I'm very excited about GT5.

While there are few glaring negatives with this game, the demo has some inherent flaws and they are most likely due to the fact that this demo is tied to high level prizes. First, there is no hood view for your vehicle, so it's chase, cockpit or bumper and that's it. A bit disappointing, but I am almost 100% sure this will be addressed in the full version of the game. The game still has the red flashing gear indicator, which has been appropriately pointed out by forum posters as more of a hindrance than a help. There is also a troublesome issue involving the use of a controller versus a steering wheel. If using a 6 axis control the TCS for the normal tuned 370Z is set to 7 and is VERY good at slowing down your lap times. While using a wheel the TCS is completely off, and thus comes as a rather large shock if you've been using a control (this happened to me). This demo has the tires set to N3 for the normal tuned 370Z which makes steering downright difficult as you have to feather the throttle and be sparing with braking if you're not going straight.

All these driving control issues make it much more simulation, but probably more difficult than I care to experience. I guess there is a bit of arcade racer in me still (see arcade vs sim post in the archive). I never realized just how difficult GT can be when set to Professional physics. I never bothered to change this setting in the last two versions of the game and as such my skills aren't up to snuff. Driving the normal 370Z honestly feels like driving on ice, but then again having a lead foot doesn't help, so take that comment with a grain of salt.

Ok, enough of the bad, on to the good. This game looks fantastic! The same way that COD MW2 looks awesome, GT5 looks to be on par. The textures and sense of speed are downright sensational. I love how the car bounces a bit across the track. This makes you feel like you have a direct connection to the road, instead of driving on a perfectly flat piece of ice. Sounds are spot on (I've seen several 370Z's up close, some at high speeds) and sound effects are stellar as well. The models for the cars are typical Polyphony (obsessive detail), along with the cockpits. The use of online leader boards kept me trying for a few hours over this past weekend, but the highest I ranked was in the top 1600 in the USA (not too impressive).

In watching my ranking I found that you can watch the leaders' lap replays, which makes it easy to find a good driving line. I recommend turning the ideal driving line off so that you can find your own best way around the track. I left this feature on (it places a blue dotted line on the road so you know where the ideal driving line is) and it actually hindered me as I tended to react to it, rather than plan my next corner.

All in all this is a great demo, but it does have its short comings. I am confident most of these will be addressed in the full version on the game. One major issue I have though is car count. There will be over 900 cars in this game, but 800 of them are already spoken for. 800 will come from Gran Turismo PSP, a game I own and have reviewed here. While 800 sounds like a lot, there are really only around 500 or so because several hundred are literal repeats of the same car. An example is the Mazda 6. It is called the Mazda 6 in North America, but called the Mazda Atenza overseas. Both copies of the car are in GT PSP and their stats are IDENTICAL. Essentially they put the same car in twice, named it something different and changed nothing. I certainly hope this lazy trend doesn't continue in GT5, and I'm relatively confident that it won't. Again, good demo, great visuals, solid driving and lots of replay value until GT5 releases in 2010. The clock is ticking Polyphony...please don't let your fans down.

Reader survey is up until Christmas Day!

Hello readers,

Just wanted to remind you all that a survey is now up on this blog (see upper right hand corner). Vote for your 2 favorite types of articles so our staff knows what to put up for the rest of this year and 2010 as well.

Have a happy holidays and thank you so much for spending some of your time with The Game Nerds!

~Staff

Only 12 more hours till GT5 demo on Playstation Network

For any hard core racing fans out there (like yours truly) there are roughly 12 hours remaining before Polyphony Digital releases its new Gran Turismo 5 demo to the USA via the Playstation Network. If you're interested in the game, or just want to see some stunning videos, check out this page from GT Planet and watch them for yourself.

Remember, there will be a competition with prizes for the top 5 finishers in the USA and Canada for lap times on this demo. See my previous post from this December to find links and contest rules, etc. It's a combined time for both available cars though, so be sure to practice with both and good luck. I'll be seeing you on the track for sure!

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 - First Impressions

I just received a copy of COD MW2 as an early x-mas gift and let me say, I am enjoying this call about as much as a telemarketer calling at dinner time. I will preface my impressions with the information that I'm probably not the greatest at first person shooters, but I'm also not terrible. I have played and beaten every Halo game except for the recent ODST, so I'm comfortable with the FPS premise for a game.

That being sad, I don't know if I've ever become so frustrated and angry with a game so quickly before (Madden 2010 is a close second). There is so little instruction to how to play this game that I usually die 3-4 times or wander aimlessly for minutes on end, just to figure out I'm doing the wrong thing or shooting civilians.

While MW2 is a stunning visual game, the game play is, at least initially, an EXTREME let down. There's tons going on, and plenty of great sound effects and a high frame rate. In fact there's so much going on that it's hard to find the important characters or the location icon that you follow to find destinations. This game also employs a semi auto-targeting system which is so poorly explained it took me nearly an hour's worth of gameplay to figure it out. And while aim assisting is great, it doesn't work well when you're injured, and as you sustain more damage your screen becomes almost entirely blocked by a blood red splatter, until you die.

Now considering that FPS games aren't my favorite, I am hoping that my poor personal skill level can account for some of the problems I've been encountering. At one point, while chasing a bad guy through a series of shanty rooftops, I died 7 times consecutively because of where the game had me spawn after dying once. In fact, I labored for 25 minutes on this rooftop level only to become so frustrated that I realized it was time for one of two things to happen: 1) throw my PS3 control through my tv in frustration, or 2) turn the game off to avoid option #1. Needless to say option 2 was far and away my best choice.

While this is only a first impression, it does not bode well for the game and I'm sincerely disappointed by how confused I was as a new player. I've been reading and hearing so many great things about this game that I was totally stoked to receive it as a gift. But after the first hour's play I can't say I'm in ANY kind of rush today to re-visit it, simply to save both my blood pressure and my anger (out of frustration).

I'm hoping that playing some of the mini, non story line modes, will help get me up to speed making lightning fast decisions and figuring out how to deal with enemy fire. But for now I honestly have to say I don't quite understand what all the fuss has been about. What good is a Ferrari if you can't figure out how to get it out of the driveway and on to the street? I will refrain from making a reference to Tiger Wood's recent driving adventures (a sad game in their own right). All in all I will give this game some more seat time once I calm down from the frustration of hour one. Stay tuned (fingers crossed)

Halo 3: ODST First Impressions

Written by JonathanJ: I must be some kind of noob because it took me quite a while to figure out that Halo 3: ODST is a separate game from Halo 3. Why they didn't just call the game "Halo 4" is beyond me, but what's done is done.

Anyway, I haven't played this game enough to make a full assessment yet, but I have a few impressions that I've gathered from playing the game for an hour or two and I can share those with you. A more detailed review will follow.

It seems that you are not Master Chief in this game. So far I have played as two different characters, both humans. One thing I noticed was that I really enjoyed the atmosphere. In the first level I found myself exploring a recently evacuated city at night. The emptiness and the music set the tone, and it was actually fairly creepy.

Since the characters are humans and not genetically engineered superfreaks like Master Chief, health does not regenerate. Shields do, but for health you must find health stations at various locations to recharge. While it's not a problem at first, I can imagine this might get annoying later on.

I can tell that this game was not designed for those new to Halo as the infamous hunters are introduced right at the beginning of the second level. Even on "normal" they gave me a few headaches until I took them out on the fifth or sixth try.

So far I think I like this game slightly better than Halo 3. The level of difficulty is a tad high for newcomers, but after some getting used to it's not so bad. I actually kind of like playing as a mere human because it adds a feeling of vulnerability and a sense of urgency. The atmosphere is great as are the graphics.

One closing note is that the grunts are as hilarious as ever. After I killed one of them, another one whined, "He was my best friend!" This caused me to laugh for a few minutes.

More thoughts to follow...

Links are up!

Hey everyone,

Ok, so the picture is SLIGHTLY misleading. I just posted some links to the GameNerds blog. The first one is Comic Book Dan's personal blog. Check it out, he's got some great insights and opinions. Next on the list is Jonathan's company blog for Core Games. If you like puzzle games you should check this out. They've got a bunch of new stuff coming out. Tell your friends because business needs to pick up for these great developers to stay in business! Need to know when high tide will be? If you're planning on going to the beach any time soon be sure to check out the Tide Charts posted on here too. The site is maintained by a good friend who, shockingly!, works with robots! Optimus Prime does need a tan...

Lastly we have a business that I referred to my current employer that provides an on-demand file server. If your company has issues sharing files and you're looking for an inexpensive solution, check out Egnyte. They have great customer service and provide a killer product.

Brutal Legend Game Review

For me it all started back in 1998. I was an eighth grader with a laptop at school, not enough homework and probably too much of a Star Wars obsession. One day I was browsing the LucasArts website and I stumbled across the demo for a game called “The Curse of Monkey Island”. I thought a game about pirates from the makers of some of my other favorite games like “TIE-Fighter” and ”Jedi Knight” sounded pretty cool, so I gave it a shot and was instantly hooked. After that came the full version (plus the original two chapters “The Secret of Monkey Island” and “Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge”) for Christmas followed by my several year quest to acquire as many LucasArts adventure games as I could get my hands on. So for myself and others like me 2009 has been a great year. Not only did we see the first new Monkey Island game in 9 years, but also we were treated to “Brutal Legend”, the sophomore effort from Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions.

For those who aren’t familiar with the significance of these two games, let me catch you up to speed. Back in the late 80s/early 90s one of the more popular genres of computer games were the point-and-click adventure games. They were the successors to the text-based adventure games like Zork that added a visual component as well as mouse input. So now instead of reading a description of the setting and typing commands like “Pick up ye flask”, you could actually see and click on the flask to pick it up. In 1987 LucasArts (then LucasFilm Games) took a crack at the genre with Maniac Mansion, on which a young Tim Schafer was a tools programmer. Three years later they released “The Secret of Monkey Island”, with Tim Schafer now in the co-writer position. This was to be the first of many successful games for the company with Schafer in a lead creative position. Over the next 10 years LucasArts became one of the biggest developers of adventure games with titles like “Loom”, “Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle”, “Sam & Max: Hit the Road”, “Full Throttle” and “Grim Fandango” to name a few. What made the LucasArts adventure games successful and set them apart from the rest were two things: 1) The idea that you can’t die, or accidently do something to prevent yourself from finishing the game and 2) the humor.

2000 saw the release of “Escape From Monkey Island”, the fourth in the Monkey Island series chronicling the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood, and their second 3D adventure game. Unfortunately, despite the Voodoo Lady’s in-game joke about being signed to an unbreakable 5-game contract, “Escape” was to be LucasArts’ last adventure game. In 2002 the company announced sequels to both “Sam & Max” and “Full Throttle” but both were cancelled followed by a statement that LucasArts was done with adventure games for the foreseeable future. What seemed to be the end however, turned out to be the beginning of something new, or rather two somethings.

Several of the developers from the cancelled 3D Sam & Max game left to start their own company called Telltale Games. The newly formed company went on to developed not one, but two Sam & Max games using an episodic approach so that each game was actually a collection of several smaller games that combine to form a “season”. Meanwhile, Tim Scafer who had left LucasArts several years earlier had also started his own company: Double Fine which created the hilarious and critically acclaimed adventure/platformer Psychonauts in 2005. That brings us to 2009.
This year Telltale, in partnership with LucasArts, released “Tales of Monkey Island” for the PC (available through their website). This latest installment in the series follows the new episodic format established by Telltale’s previous games (with the final episode just being released December 8th), while maintaining most of what made the series great. All your favorite characters are back: Guybrush, Elaine, LeChuck, the Voodoo Lady and even Murray. The controls are a little different, as is the look, but these are only superficial changes. If you’re a fan of the series, you should definitely pick this one up.

Also, back in October of this year, Tim Scafer’s Double Fine released one of the biggest games of the year: ”Brutal Legend” for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. While this game is a love letter to all things heavy metal, it’s not just for head-bangers. I don’t even like metal, but in the context of this game I love it. If you’re familiar with the gameplay of “Psychonauts”, “Brutal Legend” is very similar. You wander around an open-world environment, completing missions, and hacking and slashing your way through enemies. The menu of supermoves you collect even resembles the one in “Psychonauts”. The main difference is that they replaced the puzzle solving aspect with a real-time strategy one, which is both the most challenging and most interesting aspect of the game. It also features some amazing voice acting by Jack Black and metal legends like Ozzy Osborne (who sounds surprisingly coherent) as well as a hilarious and even somewhat heart-felt story. A must have if you’re a metal head or just someone who likes clever games.
Well there you have it; two great games to pick up. Sorry for the long post, but I hope you enjoy the history lesson!

Holiday Game Guide

Hello readers,

Hello? (echos). Ok, so I'll openly admit that very few people probably read this blog, but in the spirit of the holidays let's go over some of the hottest games for this year's gift giving season. I figure the best way to do this is to recommend hardware first (consoles, accessories) and then a game I'd personally love to receive as a gift. Sound good? (crickets)...EXCELLENT. Here goes:

Hardware
If you're new to the console market there are several great bundles available this season. Microsoft has a great deal currently on the Xbox 360 Elite. You get the system, with its upgraded 120gb hard drive, 2 games, wireless controller, headset for online play and HD cables all for $299.99 at Gamestop.

If you're a Sony fan the PS3 has a newly slimmed down version of the PS3 for sale that comes in a variety of bundles. While the price on these can get rather high depending on the options, a "basic" pack of the system and one wireless control can be obtained from Target for $299.99. I've found plenty of online sites that post ads for console bundles, but they routinely top almost $400.00, so be careful if you're on a budget with the PS3. The 80gb model might be a better buy. Here's an example of a smaller bundle with a game and blu ray from Walmart. Keep in mind that while the PS3 has a higher price it has free online network play, AND a built in blu ray player, in addition to playing DVD's (like the xbox 360). It does NOT come with HD cables though, and those can run you up to $100.

The Nintendo Wii has long been considered a party only console. And while it is more fun in multi player settings, there are plenty of great games and accessories to consider. The Wii is the cheapest next gen console, with this holiday bundle tipping the scales at just $249.99 (if you can find it in stock). As has been the problem with the Wii since its launch, Nintendo keeps the supply low, and with the standard console selling for just $199.99 don't expect your local store to simply have them lying around in bulk quantities.
Games:
Let's start with the Wii. The one game that has really captured a lot of attention this holiday season is the NEW Mario Bros Wii game (reviewed on this blog). I was so excited about this game I went out and bought it right away, rather than waiting for x-mas. It has new multi player functions which allow up to 4 players to play AT THE SAME TIME in a side scrolling adventure. This game packs a serious punch for $49.99 or less, depending on where you buy it.

The Xbox 360 has a plethora of new games out. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Halo ODST are two highly popular games. While the new Halo game has been out for several months now, its popularity has meant the price has no fallen very far, if at all, from the $60.00 price tag at release. The good news for thrifty shoppers is that used copies are now surfacing at used re-sellers like Gamestop. Both these games are first person shooters with fabulous graphics, deep story lines and TONS of replay value due to online combat. If you're a shooter fan, this is the way to go for certain on the 360.

The PS3 is system that has struggled to find an iconic game that brands the console as a signature game. At this time the hottest selling games are CoD Modern Warfare 2 (see above) and re-makes of classic PS2 games, the God of War series. These games have been re-made to have HD graphics on the new console, and are a stand in for the long awaited GOW III, due out in April of 2010. The PS3 has a lot going for it in the home entertainment arena, in addition to games, and certainly all the best multi-platform games can be found on this system as well. Infamous, and Uncharted 2 are two highly touted titles from 2009 that if you don't already own them, they might be worth a look.

So those are major highlights for this year's holiday buying season. If there are games you feel shoul have been mentioned please leave a comment so you can help others find great deals. Happy holidays, and don't forget rechargeable batteries. Those wireless controls can drain regular batteries pretty quickly...

UP-date via DOWN-load

Since I had some free time at lunch today I did a little web searching for game info. I found out that not only does the Gran Turismo Franchise have a new demo coming out (see post below) but I also missed out on a very important update for my GT5 Prologue game for my PS3. Read the "official" blog posting here.

It seems that in my haste to play newer games I've forgotten that the new age consoles can receive updates (some free). I also have an Xbox 360 so I'm used to companies like Microsoft, charging me to add cars, tracks and other goodies. Sony has gone another route, which is to have some items for free and others you can buy. The update I mention above adds 3 new cars to GT5P. These are no honda civics either. They are a concept car from Citroen, a Ferrari, and a Lotus. While each car carries a hefty price tag ($1M, $300K, $100K, respecitively) it's a great way to infuse life into a game that is supposed to tide you over until the REAL GT5 comes out in 2010. For those that care the release date is in February (mark your calendars!).

The longer the next gen consoles have been out, the more I've been impressed with the add-ons, online gaming and other fun features they offer. In the old days it was just a boost in graphics and new game franchises, but this type of update opens tons of doors.

I even found places online where people who own highly outdated sports games (NFL 2K5 anyone?) can get updated 2009 rosters. The people who make these files available are just fellow gamers who now have the ability to share their hard work with other die hard fans. I just want to give a big shout out to the men and women out there who make their hard work available to the rest of us. From those who post regularly on forums, to those who provide updated sports rosters, thank you. It makes gaming that much more fun for me and countless others. Updating older games, keeping backwards compatability alive, and allowing me access to hot new Ferrari's (see picture above) is something worthy of praise. So stand up and take a bow. And then get back to work, because I'm sure you've got some great ideas to share with the rest of us.

Gran Turismo Academy

As a well documented simulation racing fan I was ecstatic to learn that Polyphony Digital is going to post a demo of Gran Turismo 5 on the Playstation Network starting December 17th. Not only will there be a demo, there will also be a competition between demo players to see who can log the fastest laps on the single course provided. Find more information here.

This sort of interactive user approach is one of the major leaps in gaming. I love that players from anywhere can "fight" it out on a digital race track and get rewarded for it. This is a great idea for both marketing and players. Bravo to Sony and Polyphony. Now let's just hope that GT5 is as good as advertised...